Thomas e



(No Model.)

T. E. COPPIN.

GATE.

No. 440,620. Patented NOV. 18, .1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. OOFFIN, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,620, dated November 18, 1890.

Application filed April 4, 1890. Serial No. 346,566- (rllo model.)

To @ZZ whom it may conceive:

Be it known that I, THoMAs E. Comun, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rich mond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to the construction of farmgates, and is designed to provide an inexpensive and efficient means whereby the sagging of said gates may be corrected from time to time without the use of special tools and without removing the gate from its hinges.

To this end the invention consists in the combination, with an ordinary panel gate, of what I call a combination-brace, the same being constructed, substantially as shown in the drawings, of a lever or arm pivoted at its lower end to or near the lower hinge of the gate and extending diagonally upward and being connected at its free end with a tension device preferably constructed of wire, as shown, said wire being connected at one end to the gate near its upper hinge and attire opposite end to the lower front part.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gate provided with my improved combination gate-brace. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the front upper corner of the gate, showing the connection of the tension-wire to the brace.

In the drawings,A represents a gate of the ordinary construction. Pivoted to the lower end near the hinge is the brace B, constructed, preferably, of two strips of plank, one on either side of the gate and extending diagonally upward preferably to or above the top of the same and being free to move in a ver tical plane on its pivot.

Fastened to the upper inner corner of the gate by any suitable means or in any conven= ient manner is the adjustment or straining device O, the same being constructed in the present form of a stout strand of wire doubled upon itself, as shown, and passing from the inner end of the gate outward over the free end of the brace and downward to a point near the lower outer corner of the gate, where it is firmly secured in any suitable way. As

here shown, it is connected to the brace by having one or more turns taken in it around the pin or bolt connecting the two pieces of the brace together. Any other connection may of course be used,and the brace may be formed of a single strip, if preferred. I provide this straining or adjusting device with a means for taking up slack in its length. A simple and inexpensive contrivance for this purpose is shown, consisting of the stick or tourniquet D, held between the strands of the wire, and by means of which the latter may be twisted upon itself for the purpose of lengthening or shortening the cable.

The construction being as thus described, the operation is as follows: It being desired to correct the sagging or sinking of the outer free end of the gate, it is only necessary to take a few turns of the stick D, when the points of attachment of the opposite ends of the wire will be brought nearer together, and the upper free end of the brace, being also connected with the wire, will move upward, approaching the point of connection of the inner end of the wire to the gate. This, it will be seen, will effectually correct any sagging of the gate.

While I have shown a double wire and tourniquet in the drawings, I do not wish to be confined to this particular form of tension or straining device orto the particular means shown for taking up the length of this device, as other mechanism for the same purpose is within the contemplation of my invention.

What I claim, and desire tosecure, is-

1. In a gate, the combination of a brace or strut B, pivoted at or near the lower inner corner of the gate and extending diagonally upward toward its outer upper corner, an adjusting wire or cable O, fastened to the upper inner corner of the gate and extending over and connected to the free end of the brace and passing downward and connected to the lower outer part of the gate, and means for adjusting the length of the wire, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the gate A, the brace or strut B, the tension-wire O, and the adjusting device D, the brace being pivoted to the lower inner corner of the gate and the wire being fastened at opposite ends to the upper inner corner and lower outer part of the gate and passing over and connected to the free upper end of the brace, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the gate A, the brace or strut B, composed of two strips, one on either side of the gate, pivoted at the lower ends to the lower inner corner of the gate and at their upper ends connected together by a bolt or pin, the double-strand tension-wire C, fastened at one end to the upper inner corner of the gate and at its opposite end to or near the lower outer corner, and connected also to thel free upper end of the brace B, and a tourniquet D, for altering the length of the wire, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. COFFIN. Witnesses:

CHAs. C. ANDERSON, JAMES C. GENTRY. 

